Crazy Climber is an early colour video game, released into arcades in 1980 by Nichibutsu. The basic premise is to climb up the face of a large building to reach the helicopter at the top.

Controlling the climber is not that straightforward though. Crazy Climber uses two joysticks and requires the player to learn a pattern of moving them upwards and downwards to make the climber actually climb. It’s not a case of simply pushing upwards to make the climber climb. Which produces a challenge whereby you’re fighting with the controls – at least initially. After some practise you’ll probably get the hang of it, if you’re determined.

Next on the agenda is actually getting to the top of the building. Again: not easy. There are falling items that – if they hit you – will knock you down to the start. Windows open and close too, so you have to avoid being located on a window when it opens fully, or you’ll also take a tumble. Thankfully the windows open slowly, so you’ve at least got a chance of moving when you see one opening. From time to time you’ll also get more interesting hazards, like a King Kong-like monster that tries to knock you off the building, or balloons which will do the same if they hit you.

If and when you do eventually reach the top of the building you then have to grab the helicopter with your outstretched hand. Again: not that easy to do, because it’s constantly moving around, and you have a time limit before it leaves. Grabbing it is more luck than judgement.

Crazy Climber is an interesting game though. The gameplay is a bit archaic, but the underlying double joystick game mechanic is fun. For a while.

More: Crazy Climber on Wikipedia